The new school year is already buzzing with the start of Fall sports. Although high school football is the main attraction for many at this time of year, girls volleyball continues to command considerable attention.

Such is the case for two perennial playoff programs whose teams share the same mascot name – the Pleasant Grove Eagles and the El Camino Eagles – who will share center-stage for Access Sacramento’s season-opening broadcast of its 20th year televising high school student-athletics on the Hometown Sports Game-of-the-Week.

Tuesday evening, Aug. 29, the Pleasant Grove Eagles will swoop in to battle the El Camino Eagles at “The Nest.” This live telecast may be seen at 6:00 p.m. on Comcast Cable channel 17, on Consolidated Communications channel 17, and AT&T U-Verse channel 14. The game will also be streamed from AccessSacramento.org.

Pleasant Grove Head Coach, Brian Contreras, has guided the Eagles to the playoffs the past five years. His teams have averaged 32 wins over the past three years. The Eagles are led by Senior Captain, Lili Light (S), Sr. Cassondra Gomez (L), and Jr, Riley Tishlarich (S).

Veteran El Camino Head Coach, Marty Soyama, counters with a squad that lacks experience and will be severely tested in its opener. Home court advantage at “The Nest” will help the Eagles. Soyama will look to returning starters Hailee Morgan (MB) and Emily Wade (MB) to lead a young crew.

This match marks the 6th meeting between the teams since 2013 in a tight series that Pleasant Grove leads, 3-2.

A replay of the volleyball match may seen on the following schedule:

Wed. Aug. 30 at 10:00 a.m.

Thurs. Aug. 31 at 2:00 a.m.

Sat., Sept. 2 at 5:00 a.m.

Sun. Sept. 3 at 9:00 a.m.

Mon. Sept. 4 at 1:00 a.m.

Observing the theme “Looking Back and Moving Forward” to commemorate Access Sacramento’s 20th year of sports coverage on the Hometown Sports Game-of-the-Week, the premiere showing of “Retrospective: 20 Years of High School Football in Sacramento County” is Fri. Sept. 1 at 7:00 p.m. This special Hometown Sports production may be seen on the same channels.

The Pleasant Grove vs. El Camino girls volleyball match will be replayed at 8:00 pm following the premiere airing of “Retrospective: 20 Years of High School Football in Sacramento County”.

With just two weeks remaining in high school football’s regular-season, contending teams are focusing on a big push to enhance their post-season prospects. Drawing only secondary attention among multiple Delta League marquee games this week, is an inconspicuous game that nevertheless holds significant importance to Delta League contenders.

It’s the 2016 edition of the Pleasant Grove vs. Sheldon neighborhood rivalry, which appears on the surface to be a one-sided match-up simply based on the respective records of each team, and the history of this rivalry.

However, Access Sacramento will be at Sheldon-Pleasant Grove Community Stadium to televise this contest on the Hometown Sports Game-of-the-Week. This live telecast may be seen Friday evening, Oct. 28 on Comcast Cable channel 17, Consolidated Communications channel 17, and AT&T U-Verse channel 14. The game will be re-played on the same channels Sat. Oct. 29 at 11:00 a.m. and Tues. Nov. 1 at 7:00 p.m. The game will also be streamed on AccessSacramento.org and the NFHS Network.

Below the surface, a prideful clash is lurking. Despite the amazing reality that the Eagles enter the contest winless on the season, while 7th-ranked Sheldon at 6-2 is in the hunt for the Delta League title, fierce competition has always punctuated this showdown.

Pleasant Grove has undergone major adversity since the 2014 season when Head Coach, Jason Rossow was forced to step aside and eventually resign due to health reasons following the Eagles’ 0-3 start. Under the guidance of Interim Head Coach Steve Robards, and Interim Assistant Coach Lew Lassiter, Pleasant Grove has remained competitive; witness its recent narrow 21-20 road loss to #8 Grant.

In less than full-time action, sophomore QB Sam Whiting has performed admirably under the circumstances, throwing for 4 TD with 6 interceptions. Running backs Deron Johnson Jr. and James Hampton headline the ground game. Versatile WR/FS Dawson Weber leads the Eagles in All-Purpose yards and heads the receiving corps with 21 catches and 2 TD.

Weber has also had a stellar season on defense, accounting for 54 tackles, with 5 interceptions and a fumble recovery. Leading tacklers

In addition to the ongoing rivalry element, the presence of Sheldon’s first-year coach adds further intrigue to the mix. The host Huskies are guided by Joe Cattolico, who was the founding head coach for Pleasant Grove from 2006-2013, where he posted a 77-25 record with four Delta River League titles and a 2010 CIF/SJS Division-1 Championship. The ingredients of a spicy contest.

Cattolico has picked up where he left off as the Huskies enter play tied for 2nd place in the Delta League, looking for a strong finish to forge a tie for the league title with either front-running Elk Grove or Davis.

Access Sacramento will launch its 19th season of high school sports coverage with its live season-opening Game-of-the-Week football telecast on Friday, Sept. 2 when the Jesuit Marauders clash with the Folsom Bulldogs at Folsom’s Prairie City Stadium.

Will James and Jim Dimino

This game marks the first of 13 consecutive weeks of coverage that features nine regular season football games followed by three playoff games. A high profile girls volleyball match is also included in the Fall line-up when perennial power St. Francis visits El Camino in Week 2.

After volleyball, the remainder of the football season match-ups are Vista del Lago at Cordova, Roseville at Del Campo, Sheldon vs. Franklin at Cosumnes Oaks, River City (making its first-ever appearance on Game of the Week) at Inderkum, Grant at Monterey Trail, Del Campo at Antelope, Pleasant Grove at Sheldon, and Oak Ridge at Folsom.

The games will be announced by Play-by-Play broadcaster Will James, CIF Hall of Famer Jim Dimino, and Sideline Reporter Rick Stewart.

All games may be seen on Comcast or Consolidated Communications cable channel 17, and AT&T U-Verse channel 14. Live regular season game will be streamed from AccessSacramento.org, and additionally, on the NFHS Network. CIF playoff football will be on cable, but will only be streamed from the NFHS Network website.

Presenting a grand highlight to its sports presentations, Access Sacramento will boast new and improved production qualities for the 2016-2017 Game-of-the-Week broadcast slate with the introduction of its newly acquired high definition broadcast truck; definitely the source of sights to behold.

Franklin High School student, Nick Conklin, wins first place in Access Sacramento‘s 2nd annual High School Public Service Announcement (PSA) video contest for his video promoting emergency readiness for the Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services website SacramentoReady.org.

Conklin’s 30-second video was judged the top video among 56 entries from six different high school video production programs.

Conklin earns the top $100 prize and an award certificate to be presented March 30 during the live 5 p.m. Access Sacramento LiveWire interview show. The program can be watched on Comcast or Consolidated Communications cable channel 17, AT&T U-Verse channel 14 or live-streamed from AccessSacramento.org.

CLICK THE IMAGE TO SEE THE VIDEO

Two other cash prize awards are presented in the contests. Second place and $50 was won by another Franklin High School Student, Adrian Espinoza, for his 30-second PSA “The Sky is Blue” promoting the SpareTheAir.com website from the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District.

CLICK THE IMAGE TO SEE THE VIDEO

Third place was won by a student team from Pleasant Grove High School for its PSA animation, also about SpareTheAir.com. Students Andrew Engelman, Jimmy Lam, Luke Leonard and Pratule Saini created the project.

The third client supported by Access Sacramento’s PSA competition was the local Food Literacy Center’s website FoodLiteracyCenter.org. Each of the three client organizations may use any of the entries created for their website on their websites or in social media to promote their organizations.

Judges from each of the clients did the first judging pass to determine which PSA videos best aligned with their organization’s mission and marketing. All client selected videos receive an Honorary Mention certificate. Then staff from Access Sacramento did the final judging to determine the top awards and cash prizes.

Access Sacramento is a non-profit 501(c)3 foundations operating two public access cable channels and providing technology training and equipment for residents of Sacramento County. Primary funding for Access Sacramento is by the Sacramento Metropolitan Cable Television Commission and by membership donations. For more information about Access Sacramento call 916-456-8600.

All of the Honorary Mention award videos are available by clicking on the images below:

In a Delta League finale, Franklin shut out Pleasant Grove 42-0 in what turned out to be the “Lamar Jackson Show” for the star Franklin Quarterback who ran for four TD’s, passed for another, and even ran for a two-point conversion.

Franklin’s victory moves it up in the strong Delta League and improves its hopes for the playoffs. Franklin’s 4-3 league record ties with Pleasant Grove, but with the Wildcats victory over the Eagles, in a head to head decision, Franklin would likely get the call for the playoffs if only three will advance. Elk Grove is in 1st at 7-0, and Grant in 2nd at 6-1 with only the one loss to Elk Grove.

Access Sacramento’s Will James and Jim Dimino call the Friday night Game of the Week highlights:

Access Sacramento anticipates also providing live coverage of early rounds of CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoff football in Sacramento County. Details will be announced once playoff brackets and broadcast rights are finalized.

Contending teams locked up in tight conference races are charging toward the finish line in hopes that a clutch victory in the final week of the regular season will tip the scale enough to secure a playoff berth.

That’s precisely the case in the rugged Delta League where undefeated #2 Elk Grove (9-0, 6-0) and once-beaten #4 Grant (8-1, 5-1) are guaranteed tickets to the playoffs from a league that will send three, maybe four teams to the post-season.

As a result of this traffic jam in the standings, Friday night’s Franklin vs. Pleasant Grove clash at Sheldon High School becomes the pivotal confrontation that will decide the final placement of Delta League contenders.

This match-up is featured as Access Sacramento‘s Hometown Sports Game of the Week, and may be seen on Comcast or Consolidated Communications channel 17, AT&T U-Verse channel 14, and on the Internet at AccessSacramento.org.

Pleasant Grove is in the driver’s seat, holding a one-game lead over the other contenders, and in head-to-head competition the Eagles have already pounded Jesuit. Pleasant Grove also holds the home field advantage and will face a Wildcats’ team playing without its veteran starting quarterback.

Franklin star Quarterback #12 Jacob Lopez will not play again Pleasant Grove because of an injury. [Photo Courtesy: SacBee.com]

Jacob Lopez suffered a broken leg in Franklin’s recent loss to Jesuit, sending the Wildcats’ field general to the sideline for the remainder of the season.

Meanwhile, Jesuit, which got hammered by Monterey Trail last week, must travel to Del Paso Heights as a definite underdog to face a formidable Grant Pacers’ squad that bombarded Davis with 73 points last week.

A Franklin victory and a Jesuit road loss at Grant could place the Wildcats on the bubble should a fourth ticket to the playoffs be allocated to the Delta League.

However, Jason Rossow‘s Eagles will have something to say about that notion. Pleasant Grove has won back-to-back games and enters play with considerable momentum.

QB Jake Ford has passed for more than 1100 yards and 12 TDs, and two-way standouts Darren Chism and Dawson Weber have delivered all-league performances this season. RB/LB Chism has rushed for nearly 1000 yards and 13 TDs and is the Eagles’ leading tackler. WR/DB Dawson is Ford’s favorite target, collecting 34 receptions and 7 TDs, and has stolen three interceptions while patrolling the secondary. Dawson also does the punting.

There’s lots at stake in this dicey match-up. In a game containing multiple significance for both head coaches, emotions will be running extremely high throughout the contest. It will not be difficult for fans to realize this will be a fierce match-up in all regards.

The last week of the regular high school football season is upon us; a time when many teams are making a final push toward a possible playoff berth, and in come cases, playing for a conference championship.

Only part of this common scenario will be in place for Access Sacramento’s telecast of the Home Town Sports Game-of-the-Week on Friday evening in Elk Grove.

That’s where a match-up between two perennial Elk Grove powerhouses will unfold, as the Pleasant Grove Eagles take a short ride to Cosumnes Oaks High School to battle the host Franklin Wildcats in a Delta League finale.

The Pleasant Grove football program is undergoing its most volatile period. Highly-successful Eagles Head Coach, Joe Cattolico (77-25 record), unexpectedly resigned his post just weeks before the start of the 2014 school year. His successor, Jason Rossow, suddenly underwent major surgery and has missed the entire season and is still recovering on medical leave. Offensive Coordinator, Russell Gardner was then abruptly thrust into the role of Interim Head Coach.

The coaching crisis and heavy injuries are key factors that drastically disrupted Pleasant Grove’s season. As a result, the Eagles will limp into Friday’s game with an uncharacteristic 2-4 Delta League record, and just 3-6 overall, marking the Eagles worst season in ten years, and just the second time Pleasant Grove has missed a post-season playoff appearance.

Even so, underdog Pleasant Grove will bring its A-Game on Friday with every intention of playing the spoiler and registering an upset. To do so, the Eagles will rely on their veterans to lead the way. Returning all-leaguers, RB Damaree Morris and WR Sedrick Thomas, lead the offense. DE Andrew Madden and LB Derrick Carrol anchor the defense.

Franklin Head Coach, Mike Johnson and the Wildcats are faced with a singular priority: A must-win on Friday to punch their ticket to the SJS playoffs. Failing to do so will end Franklin’s season.

The Wildcats have also been hit hard by injuries. Starting QB Jacob Lopez and leading rusher Lamar Jackson are injured and doubtful for Friday’s game. In their absences, QB Matt Allison and RB Patrick Walker will be on the spot to lead the offense. DL Mitchell Bullough, LB Rahsaan York, and DB Reid Abshear spark the defense.

This game is anything but a formality to close the regular season. It will be a fierce battle, with a playoff berth and school pride on the line.

The Home Town Sports Game-of-the-Week returns to Access Sacramento’s regular play list with an 11-game Fall sports line-up beginning Friday.

The menu includes live telecasts of ten prime time football match-ups featuring many of the top-rated high school teams in the Sacramento County region including two-time state finalist and pre-season #1 Folsom, plus a high profile girls volleyball match in the middle of the schedule.

The action kicks off with a clash of perennial section title contenders as the Rocklin Thunder (7-4 in 2013) square off with the Pleasant Grove Eagles (10-3 in 2013); an intriguing match-up that pits an experienced coaching staff versus a rookie coaching staff.

The visiting Thunder are guided by veteran Head Coach, Greg Benzel, while the Eagles are now under the leadership of Jason Rossow in his first year as a varsity head coach following Joe Cattolico’s departure from the helm.

The season’s opener is also a platform for a potentially dynamic duel of Junior running backs featuring Rocklin’s Evyn Holtz and Pleasant Grove’s Damaree Morris.

Nearly 30 schools from across the region sent representatives in the 12th annual gathering to kick off the football season. Most teams held scrimmages Saturday and play in their first games of the year this Friday.

Announcers Will James and Jim Dimino originated the Game of the Week broadcasts on Access Sacramento in 1996.

Folsom Quarterback Jake Browning piled on 486 yards in passing to lead the Bulldogs to a 63-39 victory over the Pleasant Grove Eagles to remain undefeated and claim the Delta River League title.

Notably, according to MaxPreps.com, Browning also broke the state record for most scoring TD passes in a season, taking his total to 56 and eclipsing the old mark by four.

Access Sacramento’s Will James and Jim Dimino narrate the highlights in Access Sacramento’s final football broadcast of the season:

Video edited by Erika Bradley.

The Folsom Bulldogs finish the regular season with a perfect 10-0 overall and 5-0 league record. Coaches Kris Richardson and Troy Taylor have been unstoppable, even against top notch teams, like the #3 ranked Pleasant Grove Eagles.

Folsom Quarterback Jack Browning sets to pass in the final regular season game of 2013.

Browning just may be the best passing quarterback in the nation. Against the Eagles he connected for seven TD’s in the air, completing 34 of 43 passes (79%) for 486 yards. At one point, he had 21 consecutive completions before a dropped ball in the fourth quarter. The coaches are so confident in Browning’s ability to pile on the yards, the team doesn’t practice punting.

The top receiver for the night was Josiah Deguara with 10 recptions for 176 yards with five TD catches, the longest for 51 yards. Troy Knox had seven for 95 yards and two TD’s, his nine-yard reception with 3:10 left inthe first quarter put Folsom up 7-6 to take the lead for good. Receiver Will McClure caught five for 86 yards.

Pleasant Grove scored early in the first quarter capitalizing on a huge opening kick off return that started their scoring drive from the Folsom 25-yard line. The Eagles went ahead 6-0 on a one-yard TD run by Quarterback Deaundre Terrell six plays later.

Eagles’ running back Ian Broom was the work horse for Plesant Grove with 18 carries for 97 hard earned yards, although he never scored a TD. The long run of the right was by Easley Simmons with a 79 yard dash. Simmons was also the sprinter on a 56 yard TD pass reception from Terrell in the third-quarter.

Coach Joe Cattolico’s Eagles finish the regular season with an 8-2 overall record and a 3-2Delta River League tally. Post season play for the Eagles depends on the result of today’s Oak Ridge vs. Jesuit football game. Oak Ridge defeated Pleasant Grove last week, and if it wins again, the Eagles’ post season could come down to the power rankings in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section.

Post season bracketing will release at 4pm today from the CIF-SJS office in Lodi.

It’s Week-10; the final week of the regular season for high school football and a time when league titles hang in the balance, and teams on the bubble of playoff contention have a final opportunity to improve their chances of reaching the post-season.

Folsom Quarterback Jake Browning (Courtesy: www.Maxpreps.com)

Nowhere in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section has the competition been more fierce than among the powerhouse teams in the rugged Delta River League; a focal point for Access Sacramento’s Live Home Town Sports Game-of-the-Week Friday night at Sheldon High School.

Broadcast time 7 p.m. on Comcast and SureWest Cable Ch. 17 and AT&T U-verse Ch. 99. The game is also on the internet at www.AccessSacramento.org Push Watch 17.

That’s where #1 Folsom (8-0, 4-0) visits #3 Pleasant Grove (7-1, 3-1) in one of two games that will finally untangle a 4-team scramble and determine the order of finish in the Delta River League. The other clarifying contest is a Saturday noon matinee in Carmichael where #2 Oak Ridge (7-1, 3-1) battles #11 Jesuit (6-2, 2-2) to conclude a wild scenario that contains mathematical possibilities of a 3-way tie for first place, and a 3-way tie for second place.

Numbers aside, the Folsom Bulldogs have answered every challenge thus far and have assumed an aura of virtual invincibility amid SJS competition.Junior quarterback Jake Browning continues to post staggering passing statistics, having thrown for 3,458 yards with 77% accuracy, including 49 TD passes in nine games. Largely obscured by the Bulldogs’ overwhelming offense, is Folsom’s defense that has limited DRL opponents to 10.3 points per game.